Immigration, health care bills advance in California

Immigration, health care bills advance in California

Sophia Bollag, Associated Press

June 3, 2017Updated: June 3, 2017 10:26am

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Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP

In this Thursday, June 1, 2017 photo, Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, D-San Diego talks with Assembly Marc Levine, D-San Rafael, at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. The Assembly approved Weber’s bill, AB1220 that would give public school teachers three years to earn a permanent status designation known as tenure. less

FILE – In this April 26, 2017 file photo supporters of single-payer health care march to the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. The state Senate approved, SB562 by Democratic State Senators Ricardo Lara, of Bell Gardens, and Toni Atkins, of San Diego, that would guarantee health coverage with no out-of-pocket cost for all California residents, including people living in the country illegally. less

FILE – In this April 26, 2017 file photo supporters of single-payer health care march to the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. The state Senate approved, SB562 by Democratic State Senators Ricardo Lara, of Bell … more

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP

FILE – In this May 31, 2017 photo, State Sen. Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, talks with Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, at the Senate, in Sacramento, Calif. The state Senate approved a bill SB562, authored by the pair that would guarantee health coverage with no out-of-pocket cost for all California residents, including people living in the country illegally. less

FILE – In this May 31, 2017 photo, State Sen. Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, talks with Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, at the Senate, in Sacramento, Calif. The state Senate approved a bill SB562, authored by the … more

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP

FILE – In this June 22, 2016, file photo, light illuminates a section of the primary fence separating Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego, in San Diego. The state Senate approved SB30, by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, a bill that would block the state from contracting with companies that want to help build the border wall championed by President Donald Trump. less

FILE – In this June 22, 2016, file photo, light illuminates a section of the primary fence separating Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego, in San Diego. The state Senate approved SB30, by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell … more

Photo: Gregory Bull, AP

FILE — In this Oct. 13, 2016 file photo, Nikki Lastreto trims “little buds” from last season’s harvest at her home near Laytonville, Calif. An Assembly-passed bill says state and local police won’t have to help enforce federal anti-marijuana laws that conflict with California’s decision to legalize the drug. less

FILE — In this Oct. 13, 2016 file photo, Nikki Lastreto trims “little buds” from last season’s harvest at her home near Laytonville, Calif. An Assembly-passed bill says state and local police won’t have to … more

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP

In this Friday, June 2, 2017 photo work is done on a home under construction in Sacramento, Calif. California Lawmakers took steps to fix the state’s affordable housing shortage by passing bills to speed construction and generate money for subsidized housing. less

In this Friday, June 2, 2017 photo work is done on a home under construction in Sacramento, Calif. California Lawmakers took steps to fix the state’s affordable housing shortage by passing bills to speed … more

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP

FILE – In this Oct. 13, 2016 file photo, marijuana products, including pre-rolled cigarettes and buds are displayed at the medical marijuana dispensary owned by Tim Blake near Laytonville, Calif. The state Assembly approved a measure, AB1578, by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-South Los Angeles, that would shield Californians complying with state cannabis regulations, such as those legally operating shops selling marijuana, from being detained, reported, or arrested by state or local police unless they are issued a court order. less

FILE – In this Oct. 13, 2016 file photo, marijuana products, including pre-rolled cigarettes and buds are displayed at the medical marijuana dispensary owned by Tim Blake near Laytonville, Calif. The state … more

In this Friday, June 2, 2017 photo, work is done on a home under construction in Sacramento, Calif. California Lawmakers took steps to fix the state’s affordable housing shortage by passing bills to speed construction and generate money for subsidized housing. less

In this Friday, June 2, 2017 photo, work is done on a home under construction in Sacramento, Calif. California Lawmakers took steps to fix the state’s affordable housing shortage by passing bills to speed … more

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP

FILE – In this June 13, 2013, file photo, hands from Daniel Zambrano of Tijuana, Mexico, hold on to the bars that make up the border wall separating the U.S. and Mexico as the border meets the Pacific Ocean in San Diego. The state Senate approved a bill, SB30, by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, that would block the state from contracting with companies that want to help build the border wall championed by President Donald Trump. less

FILE – In this June 13, 2013, file photo, hands from Daniel Zambrano of Tijuana, Mexico, hold on to the bars that make up the border wall separating the U.S. and Mexico as the border meets the Pacific Ocean in … more

Photo: Gregory Bull, AP

Immigration, health care bills advance in California

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Efforts to resist President Donald Trump’s border wall, create a government-run health care system and tackle a statewide housing shortage have cleared a major hurdle in the California Legislature.

In the past week, state lawmakers voted to send hundreds of bills to the opposite chamber, putting them one step closer to becoming law. Here’s a look at where the biggest proposals stand:

IMMIGRATION

The Senate approved a measure to block the state from contracting with companies that want to help build the border wall championed by Trump, one of more than a dozen Democratic proposals to resist the Republican president’s immigration agenda.

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Trump’s vow to build a wall on the country’s Mexico border, much of which would run through California, has drawn particular ire from lawmakers. The state shouldn’t do business with companies that work on the project, which is harmful to immigrant families and the environment, said Sen. Ricardo Lara, a Bell Gardens Democrat who authored the bill, SB30.

Lawmakers also advanced measures to train defense attorneys on immigration law and protect college students from federal immigration officials. Another would bar employers from letting federal immigration agents access their worksites and files without a warrant or subpoena, an effort to prevent raids.

Republicans charge the measures are designed to score political points rather than enact good policy. They characterize some of the proposals, including the border wall bill, as overreaching. Republican Sen. Jeff Stone said state shouldn’t blacklist companies bidding on a lucrative contract.

Also moving forward are measures to prohibit local governments from contracting with private prisons to detain immigrants, and to reduce using false documents to conceal immigration status from a felony to misdemeanor.

HEALTH CARE

A massive health care overhaul that would replace insurance companies with a government-funded system for all Californians has passed the Senate, leaving the Assembly to figure out how to pay for it.

Proponents of SB562 say redirecting existing health care spending would cover most of the universal system. But the state would need to generate as much as $100 billion in new taxes and secure approval from Washington to redirect federal health care money.

Bills aimed at reducing pharmaceutical drug costs are also advancing.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Bail reform faces an uncertain future, with the Assembly rejecting one bill and the Senate passing another.

Under the bills, a judge would take into account a defendant’s income and threat to public safety when deciding whether to impose bail as a condition of release. Proponents say the current system disproportionately hurts poor defendants.

“The determining factor to any pretrial release should not be the size of your wallet,” said Sen. Bob Hertzberg, a Van Nuys Democrat who authored the Senate bill, SB10. “It should be the size of your risk to society.”

Opponents argue bail is an important tool to pressure people to show up for court and help keep criminals locked up. It’s unclear how Hertzberg’s bill will fair in the Assembly.

A proposal that would bar suspending drivers’ licenses as a penalty for not paying traffic fines is moving forward. And both chambers support blocking employers from using arrest records to immediately screen out job applicants.

An Assembly-passed bill says state and local police won’t have to help enforce federal anti-marijuana laws that conflict with California’s decision to legalize the drug.

The Assembly voted to keep state and local police from helping enforce federal anti-marijuana laws that conflict with state law. Californians who legally operate shops selling marijuana, for example, would be shielded from detainment or arrest by state or local police unless they are issued a court order.

Federal law still prohibits marijuana use, and lawmakers aren’t sure how Trump’s administration will deal with states that have legalized marijuana.

Lawmakers also advanced bills aimed at shielding children from accessing marijuana.

HOUSING

California lawmakers took steps to fix the state’s affordable housing shortage by passing bills to speed construction and generate money for subsidized housing.

An estimated 1.5 million California families lack access to affordable housing. The state also has disproportionately high homelessness rates.

One of the bills, SB35, removes some development restrictions in cities that fall behind on housing production goals. Another, AB73, rewards cities for streamlining the approval of housing, particularly for developments near public transportation.

The Senate also voted to put a $3 billion bond to fund affordable housing on the ballot.

Although lawmakers agree they need to address the state’s housing shortage, there’s no consensus on which approach to take.

Senate Republicans argued the state can’t afford another bond, which borrows money that must be paid back. Another point of contention is whether lawmakers should regulate how much workers constructing new housing projects are paid. Opponents say requiring builders to pay higher wages to workers will drive up housing costs.

EDUCATION

Lawmakers passed a bill by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber that would give public school teachers three years to earn a permanent status designation known as tenure. The current two-year process is too short and not flexible enough, said Weber, a San Diego Democrat.

Another bill would prohibit for-profit organizations from operating charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately run.

Lawmakers also approved measures to make the first year of community college free for California residents and to ban schools from shaming students with lunch debt.